Record occupancy aboard its cruise ships helped Norwegian Cruise Line swing to a profit in 2009 from a loss the year before.

The Miami-based company, which operates the Pride of America in Hawai'i through its NCL America subsidiary, said it earned $67.2 million on revenue of $1.9 billion last year. That compared with a loss of $211.8 million on revenue of $2.1 billion in 2008.

"Year-over-year booking volume continues to be positive and occupancy levels for 2010 are tracking comparable to 2009's record levels," the company said in a news release.

NCL launched its Hawai'i operation in 2004 with three ships. Overcapacity led the company to redeploy two of the ships in 2008, one to Asia and one to Europe.

CHECK-OUT HUNGER RAISES $184,940

Hawai'i retailers helped collect a record $184,940 from their customers for the Hawaii Foodbank's Check-Out Hunger program during the recent holiday season.

From Nov. 2 through Jan. 11, shoppers statewide were able to make a donation to the Hawaii Foodbank and Neighbor Island food banks by tearing off a Check-Out Hunger coupon at the checkout stand at participating retailers.

Those retailers included Safeway, Times Supermarkets, Don Quijote, Tamura's Market, Kokua Market Natural Foods Co-op and KTA Super Stores. It was the largest amount collected since the program began in 1994, the Food Bank said in a news release.

FREE INCOME-TAX WORKSHOP SATURDAY

The Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development and state legislators are sponsoring a free workshop Saturday to help low- and moderate-income taxpayers file their returns.

The workshop, featuring volunteers certified by the Internal Revenue Service, is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the state Capitol, conference room 329. For more information, go to www.hawaiitaxhelp.org.